General Notes

Earldom of Salisbury: The first creation of this title took place some time between June 1142 and 1147, when the Empress Maud, Henry I's daughter made Patrick de Salisbury an Earl.  He is sometimes referred to as Earl of Wiltshire and sometimes as Earl of Salisbury, usually the latter.  At this time an earldom was an official position rather than title of honour, but was often held by successive members of the same family, though not necessarily by right.  Patrick was descended from a line of men who had been Sheriffs of Wiltshire from shortly after the Norman Conquest and who may even have been of English rather than Norman origin.  Patrick's son succeeded him as Earl but died leaving an only child, a daughter called Ela or Isabel.  Richard I arranged her marriage to William Longespee ("Long Sword"), his illegitimate half-brother by Henry II out of either Rosamund/Rosamond Clifford (the "Fair Rosamond" of tradition) or a woman of obscure antecedents called Hikenai or Ykenai. (Longespee may, however have been born of some other woman altogether). [Burke's Peerage]